ARTIST AND ARTISAN

Learning Objectives:

By the end of the lesson, you should be able to:

1. outline the history of the emergence of artists and artisans;
2. identify and define the different individuals and groups who take on varied roles in
thew world of art and culture; and
3. classify the practices of artists and artisan in terms of form, medium, and technique.

Introduction

In the advent of technology, it is remarkable what has now been made possible.
With a click of a button, an array of overwhelming information is made available,
informing every aspect of human life. In the fast-paced and highly complex twenty-first
century, there is real and nagging fear that soon, everything may very well be replaced
by computers and robots that can arguably do things with more precision, at a shorter
amount of time and less capital in the long term. The nihilist notion is contested by what
are arguably the most resilient qualities of man,
which is his creativity and imagination. And as
long as there is a cultivation of both of these
qualities, no robot or artificial intelligence can
replace man just yet.

Van Gogh's Self-Portrait

Vincent van Gogh (1853-1890), Dutch painter who

exemplified the idea of artist as tortured genius. His
paintings are characterized by thick brush strokes,
brilliant colors, and jagged lines, through which Van
Gogh expressed his emotional response to his
subjects rather than providing an accurate
description of them. As a result he became a leader
in the development of expressionism in painting.
Microsoft ® Encarta ® 2009.
 This lesson will introduce the artists who have dedicated their lives to the
cultivation of the arts through the works of great creativity, imagination, and daring
throughout history. It aims to expand his into the wider world of the arts and culture,
wherein other key players and movers are testament to how the production,
consumption, and distribution of arts have changed profoundly.

Your Initial Task. Check this Out!

Check the appropriate column to tell whether the work/form of art is that of an artist or
artisan.

Work or Form Artist Artisan

Poem
Furniture
Building
Dance
Painting
Clothes
Shoes
Sculpture
Farming Tools
Wall decors

Task 2. Tell Me Who I am!

From the checklist in your initial task, tell the difference between the artist and artisan.

Read the following text carefully.

Artist and Artisan

 An artist is generally defined as an art practitioner such as a painter, sculptor,
choreographer, dancer, writer, poet, musicians, etc. who produces or creates indirectly-
functional Arts with aesthetic value using imagination. Thus, they provide us paintings,
sculptures, dances, music, literary pieces, etc. as the means of provoking our thoughts,
ideas, and emotions that are necessary to discover ourselves and our being.

Pablo Picasso

Spanish artist Pablo Picasso experimented with a

variety of styles and techniques and greatly influenced
the course of modern art. He pioneered the movement
known as cubism and invented the artistic technique of
collage. Picasso is widely acknowledged as the
greatest artist of the 20th century.
Microsoft ® Encarta ® 2009.

On the other hand, an artisan is a craftsman such as carpenter, carver, plumber,

blacksmith, weaver, embroiderer, etc. who produces directly functional and/or
decorative arts. They help us in meeting our basic
needs such as food, clothing, dwelling, furniture,
kitchen utensils, and everything that makes our life
easy are crafted by artisans.

Japanese Embroidery

This example of Japanese embroidery is from the second

half of the 19th century. The satin fabric is embroidered with
colored silk and silver gilt thread in a classical design. The
stitches used are long and short, satin and stem, with knots
and couched and raised work. The piece is part of the
collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum, London.
Microsoft ® Encarta ® 2009.
1.1 Artist

A formal Art study would be an advantage but it is not a requirement to practice

art. Acquiring or learning skills in Art is not just taught and learned in a formal art
school but also acquired informally. You may learn to play the guitar not from a formal
workshop but from the neighborhood. Yet, an artist may learn not entirely from a
schooled perspective but can be developed later in life through curiosity, hobby, or
experiences.

Most artists feel free in making their art. they have the real drive to develop a
particular artwork, most often, regardless of potential market and of how people would
respond to its message-they may love, like, embrace or the other way around. Burton
supported this claim when he said that “an artist will do whatever it takes to make the
work right”. “The result may not be pretty; it may even be painful, but it will be honest”
(2011). He added that indeed, real Art moves people. Hence, Stillmunks said that “the
real artist touches the heart and soul of the viewer… an artist takes something out of
his or her heart and soul and places it on that page, canvas, song, or whatever”
(Burton:2011).

1.2 Artisan

People have different perceptions on the importance of artists and artisans in

our society. They are the same in the sense that they both develop works of Art; hence,
they are also different since they address different needs of human beings.

Like the artists, artisans’ works are also noticed and valued-only in different
ways and levels. The relevance and usefulness of the artisans’ works make them
essential in our everyday living. A great part of our survival greatly depends on the
works that the artisans produce. The utilitarian function of artisans’ works gives us
comfort, convenience, ease and happiness in living everyday lives. From our basic
needs to our wants, artisans are there to facilitate easy living.

Artists and Artisans are the pillars of our society. We need artists as much as we
need artisans. They both serve people for a long time by providing us directly functional
Arts.
 Being an artist and an artisan, both require skills and technical competence. It
is not important to distinguish which of them we need the most because they serve
society in different ways. The sharing and preservation of culture’s dynamism greatly
depend on them.

Task 3. State Your Point!

Answer the following questions:

1. What do you think is the role of the artist and artisan in the 21st century society?

2. In what ways artists serve society? How about artisans?

Task 4. Ponder on This!

Take a closer look at the painting of Michelangelo, Painting in the Ceiling of

Sistine Chapel in 1508-1512. Reflect on the meaningful statement, “This iconic artwork
was made by the artist and the artisans, but only the artist took the credit.” Discuss your
thoughts in 5 to 8 sentences, following the (IBC) format. See Rubric 5 in the appendices
for scoring. (10 points.)
Ceiling of the Sistine Chapel
The painted ceiling of the Sistine Chapel in the Vatican City is one of the world's best-known works of
art. From 1508 to 1512 the Italian Renaissance painter and sculptor Michelangelo covered the ceiling
with The Creation of Adam, an elaborate work featuring eight scenes from the Bible's Old Testament.
Microsoft ® Encarta ® 2009.
Your Final Task. Create Me Like A Pro!

Your Final Task. Let's Have a

TwistArt Activity No. 4
Title: “Divergent Thinking”
Aim: To create an artwork through art improvisation
Materials: 1. Paper Clip

Instructions:

1. Engage yourself in a deep silence and imagine how the paper clip can be
utilizedin ways other than its basic purposes, which is to clip and bind
paper.

2. Come up with an artwork for this activity, and include them in your
portfolio.